University of Memphis women eliminated from Conference USA tourney

Marlon W. Morgan

12:07 PM, Mar 9, 2012

11:46 PM, Mar 9, 2012

The sting of losing a second straight Conference USA tournament semifinal game hit the University of Memphis women's basketball team early in the second half against Tulane as the Tigers missed shot after shot.

Then, the reality that their goals of becoming C-USA champions and playing in the NCAA Tournament set in after the Tigers turned in their worst performance of the season in a 63-44 loss to the Green Wave on Friday morning at FedExForum.

Tulane (22-9) will face C-USA regular-season champion UTEP (28-3) at 7 tonight at FedExForum in the championship game. The winner receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers (24-7) had their lowest-scoring game of the season. They shot 28.3 percent from the floor and 43 percent from the line. Their key perimeter players -- Carter, Nicole Dickson and Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir -- were a combined 7 for 35 from the floor.

The Tigers were out-rebounded 50-41, giving up 15 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.

"We have talked many, many times about there will be a day when the ball simply will not go in the basket," coach Melissa McFerrin said. "And it's got to be our defense and our rebounding that allows us to sustain staying in the game. And we weren't able to do that."

The Tigers got off to a fast start, taking a 9-3 lead by pounding it inside to Lee. But when Tulane went to a zone that collapsed on Lee, it became increasingly difficult for the Tigers to score. That allowed the Green Wave to rebound from a 1-for-9 shooting start to take the lead for good at 18-17.

After trailing by seven at the half, the Tigers pulled to within 33-28. But Tulane went on a 16-2 run that put the game out of reach. During that run, the Tigers were scoreless for nearly six minutes.

"We're playing basketball at a near-championship level now and we can't allow that frustration and that adversity to affect how we play," McFerrin said. "We can't allow it to affect us on the defensive end of the floor. I do think some frustration from physical play had an effect on us. This is not a game that is going to be won on an easy path, and I don't think we handled very well the fact it was a very difficult path."

Tulane junior guard Olivia Grayson made sure her team was going to stay on top. Grayson scored eight points during that decisive run, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

"Before the game, I just told the team to leave it all out there on the court," Grayson said. "I can't tell them to do it if I don't do it. It's one and done."

Unfortunately, the Tigers didn't have that one player to take over. Lee had 13 points and 12 rebounds but missed nine of 12 free throws. Dickson and Abdul-Qaadir each was 1 for 10 from the floor. Carter, who was 5 for 15, was the only other player in double figures with 11 points.

"It's very disappointing," Carter said. "I'm extremely upset right now. I still love my team and I enjoy playing with them. We're not done playing yet. I'm looking forward to continuing playing with them."

With an RPI of 72, the Tigers have virtually no shot at getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, they should earn a second consecutive WNIT bid. The WNIT brackets will be announced Monday night after the NCAA Tournament selection.

Another game

UTEP 60, UAB 49: The Miners broke open a close game late in the second half using a balanced attack. Guard Kelli Willingham led the way for UTEP with 15 points. Karisma Chapman led UAB (19-11) with 19 points.